I’m committed to healthy and caring communities where young and old can participate. Communities where we look out for one another and everyone – with or without a disability – can enjoy sports and exercise. Care must be compassionate and accessible, now and in the future. That’s what I want to work for every day, standing alongside the people who need care, their friends and family, and professional carers.
- Long-term care (care for older people, for people with disabilities, housing for older people and mental healthcare under the Long-term Care Act)
- Home care nursing
- Patient fundholding (personal budget, PGB)
- Youth care
- Social Support Act (WMO) and informal care
- Community shelter services and assisted living
- War victims and remembrance of the Second World War
- Patient and advocacy organisations
- Care and youth care in the Caribbean part of the Netherlands
- Labour market (training, tackling violence against health professionals)
- Digitalisation, innovation and AI
- Sustainable health systems
- Good governance, regularity and fraud prevention in the health and care sector
- Sport and exercise
- 23 February 2026
Appointed Minister of Long-term Care, Youth and Sport in the Jetten government - August 2023 – 22 February 2026
Member of Utrecht provincial executive with responsibility for transition of rural areas, growing greenspace and Europe - February 2022 – August 2023
Member of Utrecht provincial executive with responsibility for nature, agriculture, soil and water, sport and governance - January 2020 – February 2022
Organisational development consultant - January 2016 – January 2018
Director, MEE NL (promoting inclusion of people with disabilities) - February 2013 – October 2016
Deputy chair, Public Sector Integrity Board - April 2013 – March 2015
Ambassador, Youth Unemployment Action Plan - January 2013 – January 2015
Producer and presenter, Dutch public broadcaster IKON - May 2002 – September 2012
Member of the House of Representatives for the CDA
- 2019 – 2020
Organizational Consulting and Change Leadership, Georgetown University, Washington DC - 2017
The Challenge of Leadership, Finance and Strategy - 1997 – 2000
Theology, University of Amsterdam - 1991 – 2000
Theology, Utrecht University - 1985 – 1991
Secondary education, Christelijk Lyceum Veenendaal
- June 2024 – 22 February 2026
Member of the advisory board, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) - January 2022 – 22 February 2026
Member of the supervisory board, public broadcaster KRO-NCRV - June 2020 – August 2023
Deputy chair of the board, Clubhuis Nederland (BuzinezzClub) (wellbeing, education and citizenship programmes) - December 2014 – April 2018
Chair of the supervisory board, Jongeren op Gezond Gewicht (JOGG) (promoting a healthy environment for children and young people) - September 2016 – January 2018
Board member, Dutch Council for Cooperatives (NCR) - April 2016 – January 2018
Chair, Straatnieuws Utrecht (street newspaper) - April 2013 – January 2018
Member of the supervisory board, Utrecht Regional Ambulance Service (RAVU) - 2012 – January 2018
Member of the supervisory board, Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht - 2009 – September 2016
Chair of the quality assurance committee, supervisory board, InteraktContour (care organisation for people with brain injuries) - March 2013 – 2015
Chair of the advisory board, Dutch Debt Counselling Association (NVVK) - 2008 – 2013
Member of the supervisory board, Catholic Schools Foundation Utrecht (KSU)
